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Background: We aimed to reveal the role of CD11b and hypoxia-inducible factors- 1alpha (HIF-1α) expressions on monocytes and alveolar macrophages of lung tissue, and the levels of serum surfactant protein-D (SP-D) in severe malaria-associated acute lung injury (ALI). Methods: The C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group, renal malaria group (inoculated with 106 Plasmodium berghei ANKA), and cerebral malaria group (inoculated with 107 P. berghei ANKA). The expressions of CD11b and HIF-1α in lung tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry, and serum SP-D levels were measured by ELISA. This study was conducted from June 2014 to February 2015 in the Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang. Results: The CD11b expression on pulmonary tissue of renal and cerebral malaria mice were significantly higher than control mice (P=0.002; P=0.002), as well as the HIF-1α expression on pulmonary tissue (P=0.002; P=0.002). The level of serum SP-D in renal malaria and cerebral malaria mice were significantly higher than control mice (P=0.002; P=0.002). We found a strong correlation between the expression of CD11b and HIF-1α in lung tissue (r=0.937, P=0.000), as well as between CD11b expression and serum SP-D levels (r=0.907, P=0.000) and between HIF-1α expression and serum SP-D levels (r=0.913, P=0.000). Conclusion: Severe malaria-associated ALI increased the expression of CD11b and HIF-1α in the lung tissue and increased serum SP-D levels of C57BL/6 mice significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria in pregnancy leads to placental malaria. The primary pathogenesis of the complex fetal implications in placental malaria is tissue hypoxia due to sequestrations of Plasmodium falciparum -infected erythrocytes in the placenta. However, the pathomechanism of placental Plasmodium vivax infection has not been thoroughly investigated. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a key transcriptional mediator of the response to hypoxic conditions, which interacts with the change and imbalances of many chemical mediators, including angiogenic factors, leading to fetal growth abnormality., Methods: This study was conducted cross-sectionally in Maumere, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, previously known as one of the malaria endemic areas with a high incidence of low birth weight (LBW) cases. This study collected peripheral and umbilical blood samples and placental tissues from mothers who delivered their babies with LBW at the TC Hiller Regional Hospital. All of the blood samples were examined for parasites by microscopic and PCR techniques, while the plasma levels of VEGF, PlGF, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and HIF-1α were determined using ELISA. The sequestration of infected erythrocytes and hemozoin was determined from placental histological slides, and the expression of placenta angiogenic factors was observed using the immunofluorescent technique., Results: In this study, 33 cases had complete data to be analyzed. Of them, 19 samples were diagnosed as vivax malaria and none of falciparum malaria. There were significant differences in Δ 10th percentile growth curve of baby's body weights and also all angiogenic factors in placental tissues {VEGF, PlGF, and VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and HIF-1α} between those infected and not infected cases (p<0.05), but not for VEGF and VEGFR-2 in the plasma., Conclusion: This study indicated that Plasmodium vivax sequestration may promote LBW through alterations and imbalances in angiogenic factors led by HIF-1α., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Prasetyorini N et al.)